Alyn Smith MEP launches 'Puppy Checklist' and backs 'A dog is for life, not just for Christmas' campaign

posted by Ania Lewandowska | December 18, 2015

Honorary Vice-President of the Scottish SPCA Alyn Smith MEP has stepped up against puppy smuggling and launched a ‘puppy checklist’ for prospective pet-owners this Christmas.

Despite changes in EU legislation to deter puppy smugglers, the practice remains endemic with falsified passports and fake veterinary documents providing a lucrative business for crooked vets on the continent. Dogs are also being bred in poor conditions in puppy farms in Scotland and sold to unsuspecting owners who are then hit with enormous vet bills.

Alyn said:

“We’ve produced a quick puppy checklist as a starting point for anyone considering adding a pet to their family this Christmas, which should make it easier to avoid being duped by unscrupulous dealers.

“But our responsibility for puppies doesn’t end at adoption. I’m flabbergasted by how many people seem to see puppies as disposable once the novelty has worn off. For example, Dogs Trust are reporting puppies being returned because they ‘looked different after walking in the rain’ or 'ate the bannoffee pie out of the fridge'.

“Puppies are not toys. They are sensitive, loving, living little animals and we have a responsibility to ensure they are properly cared for.

“That’s why I’m backing the Dogs Trust ‘A Dog is for Life, not just for Christmas’ campaign, and I urge everyone to be vigilant against puppy smuggling this Christmas.”